The Bega Valley Rally has had to cancel it's June run date amid the COVID-19 threat. The unfortunate cancellation comes on the back of months of clean up efforts following fires and flooding to prepare shire and forest roads for the iconic rally event. "Every June long weekend the NSW Far South Coast has traditionally hosted the Bega Valley Rally and despite the fires and floods this year's route is all but complete." Lin Thorncraft of the Sapphire Coast Sporting Car Club said. "The Sapphire Coast Sporting Car Club have no option than to postpone the 2020 Bega Valley Rally." Ms Thorncraft said it was unfortunate as the rally itself would meet a majority of social distancing measures, but increased restrictions in the past week would make race headquarters untenable and the plug had to be pulled. "The SCSCC rally group have worked tirelessly to try and ensure that this event could proceed, keeping in mind the safety and health for all under these trying times, but circumstances beyond our control have helped make this decision for us." Ms Thorncraft said there had been massive clean up efforts by Forestry and the club after a number of roads - particularly around Eden - were severely damaged by fires and then subsequent flooding. "Through a huge effort by Forestry Corp these roads became available for our use and at the same time, the Bega Valley Shire Council supported the club's efforts in possibly using additional Shire Roads," she said. Ms Thorncraft said the enormous clean up and potential additional stages would have meant the 2020 rally would have had an incredible route for entrants and spectators. Race director Ian Slater shared on social media "No one more disappointed than me after working hard with forestry to get enough roads to use and two new shire roads a super special stage ... hopefully it might happen later in the year." The club is now hopeful of hosting the Valley Rally later in 2020, or failing that said the rally would return in 2021. Ben Barker will look for his fourth-straight title when the rally does go ahead, with a number of drivers already signalling support for altered dates.

Valley Rally cancelled

Bega Valley Rally drivers wow fans with a high-speed corner on a forest road stage last year with this year's event dates cancelled.

The Bega Valley Rally has had to cancel it's June run date amid the COVID-19 threat.

The unfortunate cancellation comes on the back of months of clean up efforts following fires and flooding to prepare shire and forest roads for the iconic rally event.

"Every June long weekend the NSW Far South Coast has traditionally hosted the Bega Valley Rally and despite the fires and floods this year's route is all but complete." Lin Thorncraft of the Sapphire Coast Sporting Car Club said.

"The Sapphire Coast Sporting Car Club have no option than to postpone the 2020 Bega Valley Rally."

Ms Thorncraft said it was unfortunate as the rally itself would meet a majority of social distancing measures, but increased restrictions in the past week would make race headquarters untenable and the plug had to be pulled.

"The SCSCC rally group have worked tirelessly to try and ensure that this event could proceed, keeping in mind the safety and health for all under these trying times, but circumstances beyond our control have helped make this decision for us."

Ms Thorncraft said there had been massive clean up efforts by Forestry and the club after a number of roads - particularly around Eden - were severely damaged by fires and then subsequent flooding.

"Through a huge effort by Forestry Corp these roads became available for our use and at the same time, the Bega Valley Shire Council supported the club's efforts in possibly using additional Shire Roads," she said.

Ms Thorncraft said the enormous clean up and potential additional stages would have meant the 2020 rally would have had an incredible route for entrants and spectators.

Race director Ian Slater shared on social media "No one more disappointed than me after working hard with forestry to get enough roads to use and two new shire roads a super special stage ... hopefully it might happen later in the year."

The club is now hopeful of hosting the Valley Rally later in 2020, or failing that said the rally would return in 2021.

Ben Barker will look for his fourth-straight title when the rally does go ahead, with a number of drivers already signalling support for altered dates.